Biden Declares State of Emergency in Mississippi

President Joe Biden has declared a state of emergency in Mississippi, where the capital city, Jackson, is facing a crisis in drinking water following the failure of the main water treatment plant. The White House explained that this declaration allows the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to "coordinate all relief efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by the emergency for local residents and providing appropriate assistance." It noted that "Biden has ordered federal assistance to supplement the state's response efforts due to the emergency conditions arising from the water crisis that began on August 30, 2022, and is still ongoing." White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted that "the president has instructed his team to increase federal assistance for the area," affirming "our commitment to helping the people of Jackson and the state of Mississippi during this urgent time." Parts of Jackson have been without running water since Tuesday, as flooding has exacerbated long-standing issues at one of the water treatment plants. The city, with a population of 150,000, had already been under a "boil water" notice for a month after the health department found murky water that could cause gastrointestinal problems.